Southwick voters to consider expansion of school district, building project

SOUTHWICK - Voters will decide at an Oct. 4 Town Meeting whether to allow Granville to join the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District and to seek state financial help in pursuing an estimated $69 million expansion and realignment of three schools here.

A handful of residents attended an informational meeting on the project, entitled "Merging Together for a better Tomorrow" at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School earlier this week.

The two dozen residents were told that all three towns, Southwick, Tolland and Granville must approve the merger and construction project to move forward.

Granville overwhelmingly approved the issue, by a three to one margin, at their Town Meeting Monday. Tolland voters will decide at a Town Meeting scheduled in that town Oct. 3.

"All three towns must approve the project," Superintendent of Schools John D. Barry said. If not, the district will remain as is and a plan to expand and make changes at the high school will be developed.

Granville's joining the district will not necessarily participate in the building project but it will benefit from the district's annual capital improvement program. Students in that town will benefit through additional opportunities and the Granville Village School will benefit from capital improvements.

Barry and other school officials informed residents that expansion of the district, to include Granville, will bring additional state funding in the form of reimbursement for the overhaul of the district's three schools, the high school, Powder Mill Middle and Woodland Elementary schools.

The building project, addressing the three schools located in Southwick, is contingent upon the regional expansion, said Barry.

Each of the schools are currently overcrowded by between 100 and 200 students at each.

Approval of expanding the district and voter approval for the construction package will allow the School Committee to submit plans with the state School Building Authority in October and November.

The project includes an addition at the high school and the assignment of grades seven and eight at the facility. Powder Mill Middle and Woodland schools will receive needed repairs and updating. There will also be changes in class assignments in those buildings with grades three to six at Powder Mill and kindergarten through grade two at Woodland.

SBA will finance about $40 million of the total $69 million project providing expanded regionalization is approved.

School officials said that will leave Southwick to finance about $24.5 million; Tolland, $1.2 million and Granville $3.5 million. Local shares will be financed over 30 years, officials said.